The honour is yet another one in a a series of top international awards and honours bestowed by various countries on the Indian Prime Minister
New Delhi: France has bestowed the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He now becomes the first Indian PM to receive the honour It is the highest French honour in military or civilian order, a special report in The Tribune, Chandigarh, says.
In the past, the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour has been received by select prominent leaders and eminent personalities from across the world.
These include former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela; King Charles, the then Prince of Wales; former chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel; and Boutros Boutros-Ghali, former secretary general of the United Nations.
The honour is yet another one in a a series of top international awards and honours bestowed by various countries on PM Modi.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted photographs from the award ceremony that took place at the Elysee Palace, saying, “A warm gesture embodying the spirit of partnership. PM @narendramodi conferred with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, the highest award in France by President @EmmanuelMacron”.
“Prime minister thanked President Macron for this singular honour on behalf of the people of India,” the MEA said in a statement. Earlier, the French President and First Lady Brigitte Macron hosted a private dinner for Modi at the Elysee Palace.
Modi receiived a red-carpet welcome as he arrived in Paris on a two-day visit on Thursday, July 13. On Friday he joins President Emmanuel Macron for the French National Day celebrations as the Guest of Honour.
On Thursday evening, he addressed the Indian diaspora here and announced an agreement for the use of UPI in France, opening a huge new market for the Indian innovation in cashless instant payment.
In his nearly hour-long speech to the enthusiastic crowd at the La Seine Musicale — a performing arts centre on an island in the Seine river — Modi outlined India’s fast-paced development.
He asserted that while the world is moving towards a new order, India’s strength and role is also changing quickly.
The Indian Prrime Ministerannounced the opening of a new Indian consulate in Marseille in France and told the cheerful audience that Indian students pursuing post-graduate courses in the European country would now get five-year-long post-study work visas.
Noting that France is celebrating its national day, in which he is the guest of honour, Modi said he has been to the country many a time but it was special this time, as he lauded its support to India and the strength of ties between the two countries, which mark 25th anniversary of their strategic partnership.
Modi: key focus on expansion of defence ties
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will seek to give a new impetus to the bilateral strategic partnership with France. The expansion of bilateral defence ties will be the key focus of his interaction with President Emmanuel Macron,
The Indian Prrime Minister reiterated India’s dismay over its exclusion from the global high table. “How can the UN Security Council claim to speak for the world when its most populous country, and largest democracy, is not a permanent member?” he said, adding French President Emmanuel Macron shared his views on the international order.
Modi is the second Indian Prime Minister to attend the French National Day celebrations on Friday as the Guest of Honour. In addition to several defence pacts, at least three space agreements are also in the offing.
PM Modi received a welcome from a section of the Indian diaspora in Paris and his engagements included meetings with President of the French Senate Gerard Larcher and Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, who received him at the airport in the afternoon.
In an interview to a French publication coinciding with his Paris visit, PM Modi said India was regaining its rightful position in the world and aimed to become a leading player in AI, quantum computing, semiconductors, space and defence.
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